With the holiday season just around the corner, some anglers might be planning to take a few days off from work or school to do a little ice fishing, a favorite winter pastime for thousands of sportsmen throughout Wisconsin.
But knowing when it is safe to venture out onto the ice, how to travel on ice and what to do if you should break through is just as important as knowing how to fish for those crappies or walleyes, according to DNR Law Enforcement Safety Specialist Chris Wunrow.
"Most law enforcement personnel will tell you that because it can be tricky, there is no such thing as safe ice. And, although a lake or river is frozen, that does not mean it can be safely traveled," he said.
Park Supervisor Greg Pittz at Yellowstone Lake State Park would agree.
"Anyone going out on the lake does so at his own risk," he said.
With the exception of two snowmobiles that apparently crossed the lake last week, no one that he knows of has ventured out onto the ice at Yellowstone.
"I don't know how thick the ice is on the lake," he said. He warned, however, that large amounts of snow could be a problem. "The snow insulates what ice is there."
Wunrow advises people to wait until the ice is at least three inches thick. If fishing with others or with a lot of gear, at least four inches are required. Adding all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles to the mix bumps it up to five inches, he adds.
Ice will generally be thicker near shore and get thinner the farther out one ventures, Wunrow says. He suggests checking the ice with an ice spud or auger starting from a few feet from shore and then every 10-20 feet after that. Lake ice is generally stronger than river ice.
Staff members at Yellowstone Lake have an Emergency Action Plan in place in case someone falls through the ice. "We have ladders we can stretch out across the ice," Pittz said. Other life-saving equipment includes a "throw buoy" with a 20-foot rope attached and a 14-foot "reach pole."
Pittz also recommends that anyone out on the lake have "ice jabs" along in case they fall in. These devices can be purchased commercially or can be made at home from old broom handles with sharp nails driven through them.
Safety equipment might also include a life jacket or some other kind of flotation device. The important thing is to get out of the water as quickly as possible to avoid hypothermia, Pittz said.
If riding in a vehicle, Wunrow advises, you should be prepared to leave the vehicle in a hurry. "Unbuckle your seatbelt and have a simple plan of action in case of ice break through. You may want to leave a window open for an easy exit," he adds.
Wunrow says if you're alone when you fall in you should take a few seconds to get over the "cold shock," then kick hard and try to swim up onto the ice and roll or crawl to more solid ice. If unable to get out of the water, get as much of your body out of the water as possible and yell for help. You have about 30 minutes before hypothermia leaves you incapacitated, he warns.
Anyone hearing someone in distress should call 911 immediately. When road conditions are good, it takes approximately 15 minutes for emergency medical teams to reach Yellowstone Lake from Blanchardville, Pittz said. He marvels at how quickly emergency crews can get to the scene considering they are all volunteers who start from their own homes. "The rescue squads in this area are fantastic."
Wunrow also advises anyone traveling north on an ice fishing trip to be especially cautious if government units or lake groups have installed aeration systems to help prevent fish die offs. The aerators will result in some areas of the lake remaining open.
Five minutes of checking ice from shore and systematic checks while going out on the ice, Wunrow notes, can make the difference between an enjoyable winter experience and a tragedy.
"Common sense is the greatest ally in preventing ice-related accidents."
Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
But knowing when it is safe to venture out onto the ice, how to travel on ice and what to do if you should break through is just as important as knowing how to fish for those crappies or walleyes, according to DNR Law Enforcement Safety Specialist Chris Wunrow.
"Most law enforcement personnel will tell you that because it can be tricky, there is no such thing as safe ice. And, although a lake or river is frozen, that does not mean it can be safely traveled," he said.
Park Supervisor Greg Pittz at Yellowstone Lake State Park would agree.
"Anyone going out on the lake does so at his own risk," he said.
With the exception of two snowmobiles that apparently crossed the lake last week, no one that he knows of has ventured out onto the ice at Yellowstone.
"I don't know how thick the ice is on the lake," he said. He warned, however, that large amounts of snow could be a problem. "The snow insulates what ice is there."
Wunrow advises people to wait until the ice is at least three inches thick. If fishing with others or with a lot of gear, at least four inches are required. Adding all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles to the mix bumps it up to five inches, he adds.
Ice will generally be thicker near shore and get thinner the farther out one ventures, Wunrow says. He suggests checking the ice with an ice spud or auger starting from a few feet from shore and then every 10-20 feet after that. Lake ice is generally stronger than river ice.
Staff members at Yellowstone Lake have an Emergency Action Plan in place in case someone falls through the ice. "We have ladders we can stretch out across the ice," Pittz said. Other life-saving equipment includes a "throw buoy" with a 20-foot rope attached and a 14-foot "reach pole."
Pittz also recommends that anyone out on the lake have "ice jabs" along in case they fall in. These devices can be purchased commercially or can be made at home from old broom handles with sharp nails driven through them.
Safety equipment might also include a life jacket or some other kind of flotation device. The important thing is to get out of the water as quickly as possible to avoid hypothermia, Pittz said.
If riding in a vehicle, Wunrow advises, you should be prepared to leave the vehicle in a hurry. "Unbuckle your seatbelt and have a simple plan of action in case of ice break through. You may want to leave a window open for an easy exit," he adds.
Wunrow says if you're alone when you fall in you should take a few seconds to get over the "cold shock," then kick hard and try to swim up onto the ice and roll or crawl to more solid ice. If unable to get out of the water, get as much of your body out of the water as possible and yell for help. You have about 30 minutes before hypothermia leaves you incapacitated, he warns.
Anyone hearing someone in distress should call 911 immediately. When road conditions are good, it takes approximately 15 minutes for emergency medical teams to reach Yellowstone Lake from Blanchardville, Pittz said. He marvels at how quickly emergency crews can get to the scene considering they are all volunteers who start from their own homes. "The rescue squads in this area are fantastic."
Wunrow also advises anyone traveling north on an ice fishing trip to be especially cautious if government units or lake groups have installed aeration systems to help prevent fish die offs. The aerators will result in some areas of the lake remaining open.
Five minutes of checking ice from shore and systematic checks while going out on the ice, Wunrow notes, can make the difference between an enjoyable winter experience and a tragedy.
"Common sense is the greatest ally in preventing ice-related accidents."
Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
